Merlin had to do many chores as the king's manservant; one of them is turning down the king's bed, because the king was actually, really a child and needed to be put to bed like a little boy. Or, that's often how Merlin saw it anyway. Tonight, unlike other nights, the king wasn't in the room as Merlin turned down the bed, he actually found this more relaxing at that, not having to listen to Arthur complain or demand things, like the pillows to be fluffed an extra time. Once, on a bitterly cold night, the overgrown dollophead had actually made Merlin get in the bed to warm it first, when there were hot coals for that. But Merlin couldn't complain too much, that one time, he was freezing anyway and the soft covers of the kings royal bed, (well, it was actually the prince's royal bed, at the time,) were quite lovely.
By the time Merlin was finished setting up for the king's slumber, the man himself entered the room, a smirk playing on his lips. He had been off, walking Gwen home; he had probably stuck his tongue in her mouth a few times on the way, Merlin thought, but got rid of the thoughts as quickly as he could. The image was unsightly as it was.
"Will that be all, sire?" he asked, knowing it probably wouldn't be. Arthur was a prat like that. And he was right, Arthur looked up and his smirk grew ten times bigger, stalking over to Merlin, he put an arm around him. It wasn't that Merlin didn't like to be touched, it was just odd that Arthur was touching him, so he backed away. "What's the matter with you?"
"Guinevere and I were talking about you and your mystery lover on our way back to her home," Arthur explained, looking rather delighted. Merlin heaved an annoyed breath and glared at the king. "Blonde hair, blue eyes…strong…you do know how this makes you look?"
"You know, Arthur," Merlin said then, he couldn't help it, he was too annoyed. "You and Gwen are perfect for each other; you both have mouths like a running river!"
Arthur chuckled, "I understand you long for me, but using someone else because they look like me…" Arthur shook his head and Merlin swore he was going to tell. He was just going to tell Arthur everything. "That is rather pathetic, Merlin, even for you."
He was going to tell him, he was, he couldn't take it anymore. He was going to tell him how there was no man, that he wasn't even gay, about his magic…about everything, but he held his tongue, letting the anger wash over him, into a pit in his belly. He was going to explode soon, he just knew it.
"Will there be anything else, sire?" he asked, gritting his teeth, he just needed to get out of here.
"Is that why you didn't want to tell me about him?" Arthur chuckled, in too much glee to notice Merlin's anger, or if he did notice, he just didn't care. "That isn't very fair to the man, he might actually care about you… though, god knows why he would."
"Can I leave, please?" Merlin asked, straight out then. Arthur grinned once more and nodded.
"I suppose you can," he said and Merlin booked it for the door. He turned back only when he heard Arthur talking again. "Try not to dream about me too much tonight, Merlin!"
Merlin wanted to swear, but he didn't and just gave a glare, that if looks could kill, Arthur would be dead. He marched down the corridors and down staircases, trying to get back to Gaius' chambers before the anger in his belly really did explode. He had just slammed the door, turning to see Gaius still sitting at his work bench. He let out an annoyed growl and Gaius looked up, confused.
"For heavens sake, my boy, you almost have me a-"
"I hate Arthur!" Merlin cut Gaius off, as he ripped his jacket off and aggressively threw it onto the floor. "I hate him so much! I want to quit, I'm going to move back to Ealdor and become a farmer!" Merlin yelled further. "And you know what else? I'm going to take a wife and then I am going to come back to Camelot and I am going to rub her in Arthur's face!"
Merlin threw himself in a chair then and put his face in his hands, he could feel the anger rushing through him, his magic begging to blow something up. He tried to control it.
"So I take it you and Arthur are not getting along?" Gaius asked then and Merlin looked up, glaring daggers.
"You could say that."
"What has he done?"
"He thinks I'm in love with him and that I'm sneaking out of Camelot to see a man that looks just like him, because I'm pathetic," Merlin moaned. "This isn't worth it anymore, sometimes I think it would've been better if he had just found out about my magic instead!"
"I know it seems hard now, my boy, but you mustn't give up," Gaius explained, trying to inflict his advice on Merlin, but right now, he just didn't want it.
"Thanks, but Arthur is nothing but a supercilious idiot, who might preach that he wants everyone to treat me the same, but hasn't even himself!" Merlin stood up then, heading for the stairs. "I was wrong about him, he hasn't changed since I've met him, he's the same old jerk he's always been…"
"You cannot mean that," Gaius said, letting out a sigh. "Arthur has changed Merlin, for the better, he might be giving you a hard time, but I believe it is all in good fun."
"Fun for him!" Merlin yelled, as he reached his door, at the top of the stairs.
"It will get better, I can assure you!" Gaius called after him, one last time, as Merlin shut the door to his room and walked over to his bed. He still felt angry, angrier than he had in a very long time, but tried to rid himself of it as he sat down.
Arthur was a prat, but he had changed, in the heat of Merlin's rage, he had forgotten that, Arthur was loyal and a good king, just like Merlin had always thought he would be. Arthur had a kind heart under all that prat. And maybe, perhaps Arthur was just having a bit of a hard time with Merlin being out as gay. Maybe he was only giving Merlin a hard time because sometimes friends do that; give each other a hard time. They had certainly done so, in other ways, other the years. Merlin lied down then and fell asleep, he would try not to be mad at the king anymore, in the morning.
Merlin woke up at the crack of dawn and dressed, heading down the stairs to retrieve his jacket he had left, tossed on the floor. Gaius was up and moving around and Merlin only greeted him a good morning, before rushing off to get the king's breakfast. He was much less angry today; he had to remember what his role was here, to be at Arthur's side. And he couldn't do that, if he was back in Ealdor taking a wife and becoming a farmer. The morning was routine, Arthur didn't say anything too annoying, and then Merlin dressed him in his armor, so the king could go down and practice with his knights. All seemed fine now, Merlin was thankful for this.
"Will you be accompanying me to the training field today, Merlin?" Arthur asked, as Merlin handed him his sword. Merlin shrugged, not really interested in sitting there and watching grown men grunt and sweat, while they hit each other. "You should."
"Why?"
"Because I am the king and I am telling you to!"
"Is that how it's going to be from now on?" Merlin couldn't help but ask. "You will just pull the king card?"
"If I have to," Arthur smirked. "It's my right as king to do so." Merlin laughed, he couldn't help it. "So, will you come?"
"Of course, as the king's servant…I must do as he says."
"About time you've learned that."